The Dealmaker: 4/5/2017

Expect more East Valley development — about 700 acres worth. “The Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport Authority has had plans to develop the 700 acres of land it has northeast of the airport since 2012. But on March 21, the [FAA] gave the green light for that development…” Head to PBJ to find out what the PMGAA has planned for a site that up to now “has been nothing but dirt.” http://bit.ly/2nbD8SG

Phoenix lags behind in construction job competition. PBJ’s Mike Sunnucks calls the growth “pedestrian” and our rank among major metros “not so swift.” Why? Because just “2,100 construction jobs [were added] between February 2016 and February 2017.” What Phoenix competitor “gained the most construction jobs”? How do we compare to some of the other metros? Check it out here: http://bit.ly/2oDCsFy

Demand for acquisition, development capital picks up. KEY QUOTE: “There’s plenty of capital out there for the big publics to access through their structures, but just as demand is outpacing supply on the new home availability front, there’s also a huge demand for capital among builders that exceeds the supply of it in the market right now.” In Builder. http://bit.ly/2oaH70U

Have rents finally hit the peak? “The pace of rising rents is slowing in many of the priciest markets…” A Bay Area “real estate pro” notes: “Two or three years ago, people were willing to pay anything to get into an apartment because there were a limited number.” Find out where “rents are cooling” the most, plus access these two reports: “Is the Rent Too High? Renters May Be in Luck in These Cities” and “Where Investors Are Upping Rental Costs” — at REALTORMag. http://bit.ly/2nEBiFh

New home sales price history. With graphs aplenty (three, actually), Eye on Housing takes a look at how “price distribution of new home sales has changed… over the last ten years.” The article cites “higher regulatory costs” as one major “driver” of price increases; however, a couple of naysayers in the comment section see it a bit differently. http://bit.ly/2nENC8w 

Mortgage lenders optimistic even as demand subsides. “The share of lenders recently surveyed in Fannie Mae’s Mortgage Lender Sentiment Survey® who believe ‘the economy is on the right track’ burst through to a survey high in the first quarter of 2017…” For details along with a statement about the “survey highs” from Fannie Mae chief economist Doug Duncan, go to RISMedia. http://bit.ly/2nbAts1

Arizona’s one-of-a-kind Kentucky Derby Party returns May 6th at Turf Paradise – http://bit.ly/2nBwmBC

As a supplement to the Dealmaker, we thought you might enjoy these articles!

McKeighan: Great Hearts investment offer is one worthy of exploration. (Disclosure: Rose Law Group represents Great Hearts in working with the City of Scottsdale to help develop a public park.) “DMB… deeded… land at 91st Street and Trailside View to the City in 2003 for a park. The site has been vacant ever since… Great Hearts Academies is offering to pay $4.5 million for the development of the park.” Additionally, the city “would control the site, and Great Hearts would pay a proportionate share of the ongoing maintenance — a typical arrangement between Scottsdale and the public schools that use its fields.” In his Scottsdale Independent piece, resident Jace McKeighan spells out why this proposal, with “a partner willing to bring this much capital to develop a public amenity,” should be viewed as nothing less than positive. http://bit.ly/2p1IOev

McCain condemns GOP nuclear option to confirm Trump’s Supreme Court pick. Sen. McCain: “That after 200 years — at least 100 years of this tradition where the Senate has functioned pretty well — they think it would be a good idea to blow it out. No, whoever says that is a stupid idiot…” So does this mean that McCain will NOT “vote to end a filibuster by Senate Democrats and confirm Judge Neil Gorsuch”? Find out at KTAR, and see what else Sen. McCain has to say about what he calls a “dark day” in U.S. history. http://bit.ly/2oCHjaD

County prosecutors leaning hard on governor to veto civil forfeiture bill. According to this Howard Fischer report, Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery said “there’s nothing wrong with the current ‘preponderance of the evidence’ standard,’” and that “the entire controversy has been ‘generated by groups on the right who have also used it for fundraising.’” But what’s the “real reason” Montgomery is pressing for a veto? And is Gov. Ducey listening? Arizona Capitol Times. http://bit.ly/2oaFVL8

Senate panel asks experts if border wall is best approach to security. “None of the lawmakers or witnesses at [Tuesday’s] Senate hearing rejected a wall entirely. But many were like Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-North Dakota, who noted that ‘there’s been no one who’s come before this body suggesting that we need to build a concrete wall completely across the border.’” Further coverage of the hearing at Cronkite News, including remarks about the “Yuma sector” from the “former deputy chief of the U.S. Border Patrol.” http://bit.ly/2o3Rljn

Even ‘The New York Times’ notes closing of ‘Tent City.’ “[T]he outdoor jail that stood as the last remaining symbol of Joe Arpaio’s long, turbulent tenure as sheriff of Maricopa County, will close in the coming weeks.” The new sheriff in town, Paul Penzone, puts it this way: ’Starting today, the circus ends, and the tents come down.’” Meanwhile, Sheriff Joe has a few ‘closing’ remarks of his own. —> http://bit.ly/2nYiAKk

Veto override for HOA bill thwarted for now. “House leadership Tuesday blocked an effort by Rep. Ken Clark (D-24) to override Governor Doug Ducey’s veto of HB2321, a bill which would bar homeowner association members from combining their voting rights to choose a single board member.” Read why Governor Ducey vetoed it, here: http://bit.ly/2oJkgra